Plenty of shit has been said about the Mercer Effect.
This is something that older gamemasters talk about, where the behaviour and expectations of players that have been introduced to the hobby through Critical Role are completely different to those who have played for a long time.
The reason this is the case is because they have been introduced to the hobby through gamer porn.
Let me explain.
Sex is a private and intimate act performed by two (or more, if you want) people for the sake of their own pleasure, and occasionally reproduction.
Pornography is taking that intimate act and productising it for the pleasure of others.
To turn sex into successful pornography, you have to make some changes. The positions need to be better for the camera. It needs to have all the awkward bits taken out. There’s no one getting leg cramp and having to sit out for five minutes while the camera rolls. There’s no conversations about condoms or birth control or pulling out.
All the things needed for actual sex are removed to make a better product.
This is much the same as tabletop streaming.
There are no hour long conversations about whether you are going to buy fifty or seventy-five foot of rope. There are no mid-session toilet breaks that then run on for too long as everyone else discovers they need to go. There’s no mad rush for the pizza and books being removed from reach in case they get greasy.
And like pornography, the quality of both people and sets in successful streams are unachievable by your average gamer.
Streamers are mostly attractive LA wannabe actors putting on funny voices and engaging in crazy hijinks, while your standard tabletop group is half a dozen goblin men guffawing at stupid jokes around a wobbly dimly lit table.
A lot of the big streams have beautifully painted set-piece battles, always prepared just on time for the group to fall into. In reality, you have Jimmy scribbling out maps with (sometimes) a collection of grayscale miniatures.
These things only really work in the world of streaming. I can only imagine putting together a beautifully arranged set piece encounter with masses of painted miniatures and then having the players decide they’re going to ballista your €50 dragon miniature.
It would be devastating, and I would be tempted to prevent them from doing the smart thing in order to force them into the encounter. That wouldn’t be good.
The biggest difference from porn is that most people know that porn isn’t like the real thing. I’m not sure the same can be said of stream watchers.
The point is not really that they’re unrealistic, although they are. It’s not that it’s just a product for consumption, although they are. It’s not that they set up bad culture, although they do.
The point is that engaging in the actual fucking hobby is more enjoyable than watching alone at home.
If you love tabletop streamers then instead of watching this shit, go play. Stop worrying about whether your peen will look like Matt Mercer’s and just play the game.
Drop some eejits into a tavern with a goblin camp nearby and watch the fun bloom. Play some tabletop with scribbles on paper and imagining the game with your minds.
Avoid planning and set-pieces and character arcs.
All those things are gamer porn.
Go have gamer sex instead.